Tossa de Mar Tourist Attractions Things to Do

Tossa de Mar may not be as lively as next door Lloret but there's still plenty to see and do with a wealth of water sports and leisure activities and some great excursions and day trips to enjoy.

The main centre of tourist activity is of course down at the seafront but try to find time to explore the old part of the town, soak up some of its rich culture and history and explore the stunningly beautiful natural surroundings.

Step back in time through the arched gateway which leads into the Villa Vella (old quarter) the only surviving walled medieval town in Catalonia. It has succumbed to some inevitable tourist touches but still retains its Spanish old world charm with its winding, cobbled streets and ancient houses, some of which are still occupied.

The old walled town, with its dry stone ramparts and towers almost perfectly in tact, has been declared a national monument of historic and artistic importance.

The most interesting building within the walled enclosure is the Municipal Museum, the home of the local Governor in medieval times and now the guardian of many important works of modern art and archaeological finds. The natural beauty of this area has attracted many leading artists to Tossa which explains why the town became home to Spain's first Museum of Modern Art in 1935.

The museum's archaeological section has exhibits charting the area's colourful past from Iberian times (300 and 400 years BC) to the medieval period. The remains of many Roman villas have been found here and one of the most important exhibits is a Roman mosaic dating back to 400 AD.

If you're not a history or culture buff, worry not! There are some great family fun days out to be had near Tossa including Europe's biggest water park just outside Lloret de Mar. Your tour rep or local travel agent will be able to organise a trip to the park which boasts a 250 metre rubber raft ride over steep hills, round sharp bends and through dark tunnels. There are zigzag water slides, kamikaze plunges, family pools and hydrotherapy treatments. And if you're brave enough to try your hand at bungy jumping here you'll be rewarded with a "free" photo and T shirt (big deal we hear you cry!).

About 30 kilometres south of Tossa is the Marineland complex with dolphin, sea lion and parrot shows, water slides, a reptile house, children's zoo and boating lake. Free transport to both water parks is available from the centre of Lloret.

The Universal Studios Port Aventura theme park is about 160 kilometres south of Tossa near Tarragona. This Disney style adventure park is famous for its terrifying Dragon Khan roller coaster (with its eight loop the loops) and makes a great family day out with masses of thrill rides and live entertainment.

The fascinating city of Barcelona, 100 kilometres south, is well worth a visit with its fabulous Gaudi architecture, famous fountains (the real stars of the 1992 Olympic Games) and Las Ramblas walkway packed with street stalls and outdoor cafes.

Also topping the "must see" list is the Benedictine Monastery in the awe inspiring mountains of Montserrat, north west of Barcelona. This extraordinary mountain sanctuary has attracted pilgrims and visitors since the year 1075 but the amazing rock formations in this area have inspired various forms of religious worship for many thousands of years.